Abstract: A drip irrigation hose includes a hose body formed of a single sheet of overlapping material. The hose includes a primary fluid chamber extending longitudinally along the hose formed within the hose body. The hose includes a plurality of secondary fluid chambers serially disposed along the hose. The secondary fluid chambers each include a plurality of inlets formed in the hose body between a first portion and the primary fluid chamber for receiving fluid from the primary fluid chamber. The secondary fluid chambers each includes a second portion including a plurality of embossed regions formed in the hose body, and an outlet formed in the hose body adjacent the second end. Each of the secondary fluid chambers includes a pair of ribs longitudinally disposed along the first and second portions for forming side walls of each of the secondary fluid chambers.

Abstract: An irrigation hose splice and method of making the same that permits used irrigation hose to be reinstalled and retrieved in the same manner as new irrigation hose. The method of splicing includes providing two segments of unjoined irrigation hose. Inserting a heat shield into a first segment to prevent its inner circumferential surface from fusing together when the first hose segment is later fused with a second hose segment. Inserting the first hose segment into the second hose segment, creating an area where the two segments overlap. Appyling heat and compression simultaneously at the overlapping area to fuse together the first and second hose segments, creating an irrigation hose splice which is composed of material from the first hose segment and the second hose segment that have been fused together.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose includes a hose body formed of a single sheet of overlapping material. The hose includes a primary fluid chamber extending longitudinally along the hose formed within the hose body. The hose includes a plurality of secondary fluid chambers serially disposed along the hose. The secondary fluid chambers each include a plurality of inlets formed in the hose body between a first portion and the primary fluid chamber for receiving fluid from the primary fluid chamber. The secondary fluid chambers each includes a second portion including a plurality of embossed regions formed in the hose body, and an outlet formed in the hose body adjacent the second end. Each of the secondary fluid chambers includes a pair of ribs longitudinally disposed along the first and second portions for forming side walls of each of the secondary fluid chambers.

Abstract: An irrigation hose splice and method of making the same that permits used irrigation hose to be reinstalled and retrieved in the same manner as new irrigation hose. The method of splicing includes providing two segments of unjoined irrigation hose. Inserting a heat shield into a first segment to prevent its inner circumferential surface from fusing together when the first hose segment is later fused with a second hose segment. Inserting the first hose segment into the second hose segment, creating an area where the two segments overlap. Appyling heat and compression simultaneously at the overlapping area to fuse together the first and second hose segments, creating an irrigation hose splice which is composed of material from the first hose segment and the second hose segment that have been fused together.

Abstract: A constant-flow drip irrigation tape hose includes a primary flow path communicating water along the length of the hose. A secondary drip-flow path leads from the primary flow path to an emitter site outwardly of the hose. The hose is formed with a pair of variably spaced apart walls at least one of which is formed with a continuously-open channel defining part of the secondary flow path. A second variable-area part of the secondary flow path is defined by radial spacing of the pair of walls from one another. At least one of the pair of walls is responsive to internal water pressure in the primary flow path to open and close the variable-area part of the secondary flow path in response, respectively, to decreasing and increasing water pressure in the hose. A plurality of emitter sites are spaced regularly along a length of the hose.

Abstract: A multiple chamber hose for drip irrigation and the like, with a primary chamber for fluid flow therethrough and a multiple layer section having a primary layer, a mid layer and a secondary layer, and with a secondary chamber in said mid layer for fluid flow therethrough. The primary layer is positioned between the primary chamber and the mid layer, and the secondary layer is positioned between the mid layer and the exterior. The hose includes an inlet opening for fluid flow from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber and an outlet opening for fluid flow from the secondary chamber to the exterior. The invention also includes methods of making such a hose.

Abstract: A length of plastic with a copper powder adhered to a surface thereof along its length for control of growth of algae and the like, and method and apparatus for producing such a product. A multi-chamber drip irrigation hose for distributing water and the like having a larger primary tube and a smaller secondary tube of flexible water impermeable material and joined at a common wall having passages facing the interior of the primary tube in communication with the interior of the secondary tube and having passages leading from the interior of the secondary tube to the exterior, with a copper powder adhered to at least one inner surface along the length of the tube, with the powder being in a continuous layer or in a non-continuous layer. In one embodiment the copper powder is applied from a reservoir onto a plastic film by brushing directly onto the film or by transfer from a rotating wheel carrying the copper powder.

Abstract: A multiple chamber hose for drip irrigation and the like, with a primary chamber for fluid flow therethrough and a multiple layer section having a primary layer, a mid layer and a secondary layer, and with a secondary chamber in the mid layer for fluid flow therethrough. The primary layer is positioned between the primary chamber and the mid layer, and the secondary layer is positioned between the mid layer and the exterior. The hose includes an inlet opening for fluid flow from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber and an outlet opening for fluid flow from the secondary chamber to the exterior.

Abstract: A multichamber drip irrigation hose for distributing water and the like. A hose having a larger primary tube and a smaller secondary tube joined at a common wall, with passages in the common wall for flow from the primary tube to the secondary tube, and with passages in the secondary tube for flow from the secondary tube to the exterior. The tubes of the hose are formed from a strip of sheet material having opposite edges with one or both edges folded on itself to form a thicker edge, and with the strip folded and bonded to both thicker edges or one thicker edge and to the strip along a line spaced from the thicker edge, to form the primary and secondary tubes. Various fold configurations are possible.